They were extremely difficult to drive, that would be part of the fascination.

It is indeed a tough question but, to me, the greatest racing car ever made was the pre-war Auto Union – that was the greatest era, when the cars were so incredibly powerful.
The Auto Union in particular was special, because the design was by Ferdinand Porsche, and because
of the tracks that they raced on, too. Everything then was so difficult, and the cars were so powerful with very little rubber on them, and the rubber was unreliable at best anyway. [It was said that the Type C would spin its wheels at 100mph – ed.]
 
I’ve never driven an Auto Union, but that may come in the future.  They were extremely difficult to drive, that would be part of the fascination. I’ve talked to Jochen Mass who has driven one, and he says it’s incredible.  I have read Rudolf Caracciola’s biography and Tazio Nuvolari’s as well, and to read the history of the races in those prewar days is really quite unbelievable.   

The Type C was the most successful of the Auto Unions, its 6-litre V16 engine producing over 500bhp. In its two seasons, 1936 amd ‘37, it won nine grands prix.

Click on the links to see the cars:

Maserati 250F
Lotus 49
Porsche 917
AC Cobra
Mercedes-Benz W196
Toyota TS010 Group C

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